Emitter valve for soil irrigation



D Umted States Patent 1 13,547,355

[72] Inventor Eliazar R. Salazar 3,139,114 Benzel 138/45X Gard Grove,Calif- 3,297,260 1/1967 Barlow 239/534X 1 1 p 793,192 FOREIGN PATENTS[22] Filed 1 205 405 11/1965 0 a [45] Patented Dec. 15,1970 erm ny [73]Assignee Salco Products Incorporated Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood,.11.

Los Angeles, Calif. Assistant Examiner- Michael Y. Mar a corporation ofCalifornia Attorney-Harry Kotlar and Lewis B. Sternfels [54] gshv ggggIRRIGATION ABSTRACT: The emitter valve, which is useful for irrigationof soil, includes a valve body placed intermediate the ends of a [52]US. 239/547, supply conduit and provided with a valve head. The head has239/570; 239/602: 47/485 137/525 an inlet connected to the supplyconduit and one or more out- [51] Int. Cl B05b 15/00 lets opening to thevalve exten'or for supply of water to the [50] Field oISearch 239/534,soil. A cylindrical cavity is formed in the head. A deformable ball ishoused in the valve head within the cavity and rests 137/79, 525; 138/45against the inlet. The cavity is threaded to receive an adjustable setscrew which exerts a pressure against the ball and [56] References citedcauses the ball to bear against the inlet. The amount of water UNITEDSTATES PATENTS released by the valve is determined by the pressure inthe 1,515,998 Clark 137/525 conduit which overcomes the applied pressureof the set 2,533,191 12/1950 Jaeger 239/534X screw in order to deformthe ball and to allow water to pass to 3,046,747 Timpe 47/48.5X thesoil.

PATENTEUDEE1 slam 3547.355

Eliazar R. Salazar,

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

EMITTER VALVE FOR SOIL IRRIGATION The present invention relates to asoil irrigation apparatus and, more particularly, to an emitter valvetherefor.

Irrigation of soil is an age-old art wherein it is desired to maintainthe moisture content of the soil at levels needed by the type ofvegetation growing therein. It has also been the aim of prior systems toadd to or replenish the soil with various minerals and other nutrientsto assure maximum health and proper growth of the vegetation.

The general rule applied with regard to conventional irrigation systemsis simply to furnish the plants with water without regard to their exactmoisture requirements or to economy of use of water. In many cases, thiscommon practice has degraded the quality of the soil. For example, indesert climates where the soil generally has a large water absorptioncapability because of the consistently high temperatures and largeexposure to the sun, evaporation into the atmosphere and absorption intothe soil has required the use of extremely large quantities of water inorder to furnish a relatively small amount of water to and required bythe plant The majority of water in these conditions filters orpercolates through the soil more rapidly than can be used by the plant.This filtration also deleteriously causes salts and other minerals toremain in the soil. Evaporation additionally produces the same resultand this residue of salts eventually prevents the growth of many formsof vegetation. It has been estimated, for example, that the ColoradoRiver contains 2 tons of salts per acre-foot and these salts haveseriously polluted the soil, preventing the fullest and most economicuse of the soil and the use of the soil for high yield crops.

in addition, where large volume watering has been undertaken constantlyfor many years, the water level has actually been raised even in desertsso that the salt level is sufficiently close to the plants to preventplant growth directly by the salts or indirectly by killing beneficialbacteria which, for example, produce nitrogen needed by the plants.

Because of these problems, such soils at times have been leached, thatis, the soil has been washed, in order to drain the salts off into largedrainage canals. This leaching method has only met with moderate successand is expensive.

Nonporous soils also experience similar problems and, in addition, waterruns off or evaporates into the atmosphere or possibly even rots theplant roots from too much moisture. In such cases, precise metering ofwater is required.

Prior methods of irrigation have varied from the very old use of woodenplanks or bamboo poles to the more modern use of metals and plasticsdisposed underground as conduits. The major disadvantage of thesemethods is that the planks or poles soon rot or become clogged withroots, algae, and dirt and even, in the case of bamboo poles, sprout andtake root at the knuckles joining the bamboo segments.

In more recent years, metals and plastics have been used for irrigationpurposes. One type utilizes spray'devices which extend above the surfaceof the ground from underground piping for sprinkling or .broadcastingwater over the area surrounding the devices. Aside from the problems ofacting as obstacles to mowing, harvesting, and other cultivation orgardening techniques, the most serious disadvantage of spray devices istheir uneconomic use of water. Excess water either drains from the landor forms pools thereon. On hillsides, this excess water producesseriously eroded soil. In very dry areas, it has been estimated thatonly 5 percent of the water reaches the plant, 24 percent of the waterbeing lost to the atmosphere before it reaches the ground, 54 percentevaporating from the surface within the next 36 hours, and the remaindertoo quickly soaking past the roots before the roots can utilize thewater.

Prior devices have also been deficient in the proper control of waterflow or supply of water. The water pressure may vary downstream from thesource or at different elevations of the outlets. The soil textures maydiffer from a porous sand to a nonporous clay. Some areas of the landmay be shaded while others are exposed to the sun. Furthermore, theconduits may become obstructed by foreign matter such as minerals andalgae. In one conduit utilizing uncovered holes, the soil tends to clogthe holes or even drop within and plug up the piping. Consequently,after some use of such a conduit, areas of the soil are no longerirrigated. Algae grow within the conduit and produce similar problems.Plant roots also tend to grow toward the source of water to envelope thepipe and grow into the holes so as to provide further clogging.

Several attempts have been made to circumvent these problems, such as bycovering the holes with ceramics or foamed plastic pads. These attemptshave been unsatisfactory, however, because even such coverings tend tobecome clogged and fouled. Again, the same problems result, although toa lesser degree, as with the uncovered holes. In addition, algae andminerals are not easily removable from the coverings.

Still another method includes the covering of the holes with aprotective material, burying the pipe and material in and surrounding itby a bed of gravel or crushed stone above which a layer of soil isplaced. Vegetation is then planted. Although this system minimizesclogging of'the holes with soil to some extent, there is still somepossibility of roots working their way down through the gravel and intothe holes. The greatest drawback to the gravel system, however, is itshigh cost resulting from the use of special materials, the preparationof the soil, and the high cost of labor.

The present invention overcomes these and other irrigation problems byproviding an adjustable emitter'valve which can be adapted to differentand varying porousities of the soil, elevations of the landscape, shadeconditions, temperature conditions, and other factors. In general, thepresent invention comprises a plastic valve body placed intermediate theends or at the end of a supply conduit and provided with a head havingan inlet connected to the supply conduit. One or more outlets extendfrom the head. A cylindrical cavity in the valve head houses adeformable ball. The ball is adapted to bear against the inlet, theseating pressure of the ball being varied by means of a set screw, thumbscrew or the like threadedly engaging the cylindrical cavity.

The ball is relatively deformable with respect to the valve body and itshardness is selected to conform to the climate in which the emittervalve'is to be used. For use in colder climates and at low pressures, alesser hardness is preferred while in a hotter climate and/or at higherpressures, a harder ball is preferred. In addition, for closercorrelation of water supply with plant water needs, the ball is so madethat it becomes softer upon a rise of temperature to permit a large flowof water to be furnished the soil and becomes harder when thetemperature drops to permit a lesser flow of water.

In operation, the amount of water released by the valve is determined bythe pressure in the conduit which overcomes the applied pressure of theset screw in order to deform the ball and to allow water to pass to thesoil.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide anemitter valve for irrigation of soil. Another object is the provision ofsuch an emitter valve for furnishing metered amounts of water to thesoil.

Another object is to provide an emitter valve for furnishing meteredamounts of water to the soil according to varying soil porousity,temperatures, elevations of the soil, and shade conditions.

Another object is the provision of .such an emitter valve which isdeformable upon application of water supply pressure.

Another object is to provide an emitter valve which is responsive totemperature changes for regulating the supply of water to the soil.

Other aims and objects, as well as a more complete understanding of thepresent invention, will become apparent from the following explanationof an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the emitter valve;

he ball will not stick in or adhere to seat 29 H6. 2 is across-sectional v compound or other lubricant may be apsegrnents of awater suppiy Cone; and

" rousity of the soil, the shade and temis eievations at which thevalves are to 2 taken along lines 5 Accordingly, an n requirements ofthe plants for water are head M. The body is provided i the applicablehardness is selected has a tube abutment section 1 he set screw is thenadjusted in each h di f Section cific iocation and for the water pres-2!} 1f the vaive f 1 19 uit Thereafter, no further handling be replacfidby a Sea}. A red except in those instances whe reit may tions 2 andabut-S S ush out the system, at which time it 15 only and diameters ofconduit 4 e the water pressure and further deform smooth uninterwmed inkthe valve may also be opened and, after 1 v is then readjusted to itsformer position.

conduit 22 may be wel or body to provide a therewith.

Valve head id is provided. v

nears against ball 32 and seeps past the ets 3-9 for supply to the soil.

' :1 has been described with references eni thereof, it should berealized that modifications may be made therein the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

26 or the like. An i opens into cavity at one end 16 at the other end. Ifrom cylindrical ca ty 2 lets preferably are placed rl A deformable ball32 is pl vided with a diameter slight! greater than that of inie so as iat the inlet. The bail or the supply of controlled amounts of rorn asource of water to soil in an ir- 2 a substantially opened-ended bodyand a fluid emission and control d to the source of water and comeciionsand a tube abutment secof the -Y- 53E 5am? N said tube receivingsections; and

a j l pressure EE on and control head comprising outlet seat 29 acttogether a r 0 ng to .he exterior of said body, an inlet openis providedin the set screw bore r. sans for reception of the water under order tovary the pressure a 35 motor means connecting said outlet 15 comprisinga seat terminating said inarl positioned on said seat and exertingacting the pressure of the water, and a engaged within said head andbearing to adjust the pressure of said ball of said ball and thepressure of the as to permit the supply of conwater.

ias in claim ll wherein said body is relaect to said ball.

vs as in claim l wherein said ball has a 12' greater than that of saidbody.

we in an irrigation system for supplying 113 o water under pressure froma source of counter pressure against t2 Preferably, valve is ABS(acrilonitrite butad styrene, while ball 32 is far such as a neoprenegum. Tne o tives to provide it a part it to use in a particular cl videdwith a hardness of Shore where the temperatures are not 2: and waterpressures of l tii hotter climates where the pressure parameters orderto indicate tl iet portion, a fluid outlet portion and minding adeformable element posi- Mt portion and said inlet portion, said to thesource and said outlet portion lenient seated against the terminus ofwrung a counterpressure to the water -ppiy of controlled amounts ofwater vegetation. in honor cl of water would be r 1 these factors wiilvary possible that a hard bal and vice versa.

in addition, to vary the cordance with plan nee" 32 may also be $0 "see4 contract at lesser rare;

14-. Thus, a call may cient which is Fr stiffness coef locations wherethe r siderable extent. At lo more closely in sea; 29 to be delivered tothe soil fore, less water iviii s evaporation is the ieast furnishedwhen the tent rate of water from the soil 2! means, such additionai Iized between screw 26 r, 3 tion.

in claim 4 wherein said deformable to a thermal stiffness coefficientgreater 4 wherein said fluid inlet porand said inlet portion includes a:ected to said bore means, and element is received in and supported idJody larger than said seat, said sniailer than said enclosure andwherein said fluid inlet portion includes tube receiving sections and atube abutment section intermediate said tube receiving sections, saidtube abutment section having a diameter less than that of said tubereceiving sections; and

including tube means connected to the source of water, said tube meanshaving an outer diameter substantially equal to the diameter of saidtube receiving sections and an inner diameter substantially equal to thediameter of said intermediate section, said tube means received withinsaid receiving sections and abutting against said intermediate sectionto provide saidinlet portion with a smooth interior.

9. A valve as in claim 4, said element comprising a ball consisting of aneoprene gum.

10. A valve as in claim 4, said element consisting of the combination ofa neoprene gum and additives to impart a specified hardness to saidelement.

11. A valve as in claim 4, said body consisting of an ABS plastic andsaid element consisting of a neoprene gum.

12. A valve as in claim 4 further including a lubricant applied to saidelement.

13. A valve as in claim 12 wherein said lubricant consists of asilicone.

14. In an irrigation system, an emitter valve having a housing connectedto a source of water under pressure and provided with a fluid outlet,said housing formed of a material having a specified thermal stiffnesscoefficient and provided with a valve seat and a deformable elementdisposed on and exerting a pressure against said seat, said deformableelement formed of a material having a thermal stiffness coefficientgreater than the thermal stiffness coefficient of said housing,

to permit the flow of water to be greater at higher temperatures than atlower temperatures.

15. A valve as in claim 14 further including force applying means in andcooperative with said housing and contacting said element for exerting aforce against said element 34 and for increasing the pressure of saidelement against said seat.

16. A valve as in claim 15 wherein said force applying means includesmeans cooperative with said housing for adjusting the force exertedagainst said element.

17. An emitter valve for the supply of controlled amounts of water underpressure from a source of water to soil in an irrigation systemcomprising a fluid emission and control head comprising:

outlet means opening to the exterior of said body, an inlet connected tothe source for reception of the water under pressure;-and

regulator means connecting said outlet means said inlet,

said regulator means comprising adeformable element positioned on saidinlet and exerting a pressure counteracting the pressure of the water,and means engaged within said head and bearing against said element toadjust the pressure of said element whereby the pressure of said elementand the pressure of the water are so balanced as to permit the supply ofcontrolled amounts of water.

18. An emitter valve as in claim 17 further including cavity means insaid head positioned between said outlet means and said inlet, saidelement disposed in saidcavity and said cavity means having a dimensionslightly larger than said element for support thereof yet permitting thesupply of the water.

